Biscotti

Watching the Great British Bake Off contestants making Biscotti inspired me to give them a go.  They are pretty easy to make and you can put any selection of fruit and nuts into them you like.  I based mine on Nigella Lawsons recipe from her Nigellisima book.

Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti

1 egg
75g caster sugar
finely grated zest of an orange
125g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
fresh nutmeg
75g pistachio nuts ( I used a mixture of nuts)
50g dried cranberries

Preheat oven to Gas 4/180ºC

Whisk the egg and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the orange zest then slowly fold in the flour, baking powder and a good grate of nutmeg.

Fold in the fruit and nuts.  The dough will be quite sticky.

Flour your bench and maybe even your hands.  Form the dough into a flattish oval a bit like the shape of a ciabatta, about 25cm x 5cm, tapering slightly at the ends.

Line your baking sheet with baking parchment and carefully put the dough onto it. Cook for 25 - 30 minutes until it is pale golden in colour. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes and then cut it with a serrated knife into fingers about 1cm thick. Put these cut side up onto the baking parchment covered tray and cook for 10 minutes and then turn them over so the other cut side is exposed and cook for another 5 minutes.

Cool the biscotti on a wire rack then store in an airtight container.  They would make lovely presents, but make more of them because they are very moreish.